Hagiography

Scott Beyer
08/09/24 - Bulletin

“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.” (2 Samuel 1:24)

A friend recently introduced me to a new word – hagiography.  Hagiography is the practice of writing about someone without revealing their flaws.  In some instances, this can be disingenuous – for example: if you tell stories about yourself where you are always the hero and others are the villians.

However, there is a time to hide the flaws of others and present them as the best version of themselves to others.  Proverbs 17:9 tells us that “whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.”

In David’s lament over Saul, he gives a hagiographic portrayal of the man. Saul was a deeply-flawed king who had made David’s life miserable, but in an act of quiet rebellion against hate, David covers over Saul’s offenses and focuses on the best part of the man.  To see the best in people is hard at times, but it is what those who seek love do.  If David could write Saul’s hagiography, perhaps we can do the same for our enemies, too.

This Week’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25-31; 2 Samuel 1-2; Psalm 32; Proverbs 1

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

Share Online